The diagnostic interview for personality disorders: Interrater and test-retest reliability

The Diagnostic Interview for Personality Disorders (DIPD) is a semistructured interview of 252 questions that encompasses all 11 Axis II disorders described in the DSM-III. Its interrater reliability was assessed using a sample of 43 patients and its test-retest reliability was assessed using a separate sample of 54 patients. Adequate kappas were obtained in both situations for all disorders except schizoid personality disorder, which was never diagnosed. Interrater coefficients ranged from .52 to 1.0, with nine in the excellent range (κ > .75). Test-retest coefficients ranged from .46 to .85, with four in the excellent range. These results compara very favorably to those achieved using the other two Axis II interviews that have appeared in the literature, the Structured Interview for the DSM-III Personality Disorders (SIDP) and the Personality Disorder Examination (PDE).     

Borderline personality disorder criteria associated with prospectively observed suicidal behavior

OBJECTIVE: The authors prospectively examined associations between each DSM-IV borderline personality disorder criterion and suicidal behaviors. METHOD: Borderline personality disorder diagnosis and criteria, major depressive disorder, substance use disorders, and history of childhood sexual abuse were assessed with semistructured interviews. Participants (N=621) were followed for 2 years with repeated structured evaluations that included assessments of suicidality. RESULTS: With the self-injury criterion excluded, the borderline personality disorder criteria of affective instability, identity disturbance, and impulsivity significantly predicted suicidal behaviors. Only affective instability and childhood sexual abuse were significantly associated with suicide attempts (i.e., behavior with some intent to die). CONCLUSIONS: Affective instability is the borderline personality disorder criterion (excluding self-injury) most strongly associated with suicidal behaviors. Since major depressive disorder did not significantly predict suicidal behaviors, the reactivity associated with affective instability (more so than negative mood states) appears to be a critical element in predicting suicidal behaviors.     

Incidence of nonsustained and sustained ventricular tachyarrhythmias in patients with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator

INTRODUCTION: Nonsustained ventricular tachycardia (NSVT) is a frequent phenomenon in some patients with heart disease, but its association with sustained ventricular tachycardias (ventricular tachycardia [VT]/ventricular fibrillation [VF]) is still not clear. The aim of this study was to determine whether NSVT incidence was associated with sustained VT/VF in patients with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD). METHODS AND RESULTS: Retrospective data analysis was conducted in 923 ICD patients with a mean follow-up of 4 months. NSVT and sustained VT/VF were defined as device-detected tachycardias. The incidence rates of NSVT and sustained VT/VF as well as ICD therapies were determined as episodes per patient. The NSVT index was defined as the product of NSVT episodes/day times the mean number of beats per episode, i.e., total beats/day. The NSVT index peak was defined as the highest value on or prior to the day with sustained VT/VF episodes. Patients (n = 393) with NSVT experienced a higher incidence of sustained VT/VF (17.2 +/- 63.0 episodes/patient) and ICD therapies (15.2 +/- 61.4 episodes/patient) than patients (n = 530) without NSVT (sustained VT/VF: 0.5 +/- 6.6 and therapies: 0.5 +/- 5.6; P < 0.0001). Approximately 74% of NSVT index peaks occurred on the same day or <3 days prior to sustained VT/VF episodes. The index was higher for peaks < or =3 days prior to the day with sustained VT/VF (94.3 +/- 140.1 total beats/day) than for peaks >3 days prior to the day with sustained VT/VF (32.7 +/- 55.9 total beats/day; P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: ICD patients with NSVT represent a population more likely to experience sustained VT/VF episodes with a temporal association between an NSVT surge and sustained VT/VF occurrence.     

The Effects on Health Behavior and Health Outcomes of Internet-Based Asynchronous Communication Between Health Providers and Patients With a Chronic Condition: A Systematic Review

Background

In support of professional practice, asynchronous communication between the patient and the provider is implemented separately or in combination with Internet-based self-management interventions. This interaction occurs primarily through electronic messaging or discussion boards. There is little evidence as to whether it is a useful tool for chronically ill patients to support their self-management and increase the effectiveness of interventions.

Objective

The aim of our study was to review the use and usability of patient-provider asynchronous communication for chronically ill patients and the effects of such communication on health behavior, health outcomes, and patient satisfaction.

Methods

A literature search was performed using PubMed and Embase. The quality of the articles was appraised according to the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) criteria. The use and usability of the asynchronous communication was analyzed by examining the frequency of use and the number of users of the interventions with asynchronous communication, as well as of separate electronic messaging. The effectiveness of asynchronous communication was analyzed by examining effects on health behavior, health outcomes, and patient satisfaction.

Results

Patients’ knowledge concerning their chronic condition increased and they seemed to appreciate being able to communicate asynchronously with their providers. They not only had specific questions but also wanted to communicate about feeling ill. A decrease in visits to the physician was shown in two studies (P=.07, P=.07). Increases in self-management/self-efficacy for patients with back pain, dyspnea, and heart failure were found. Positive health outcomes were shown in 12 studies, where the clinical outcomes for diabetic patients (HbA1c level) and for asthmatic patients (forced expiratory volume [FEV]) improved. Physical symptoms improved in five studies. Five studies generated a variety of positive psychosocial outcomes.

Conclusions

The effect of asynchronous communication is not shown unequivocally in these studies. Patients seem to be interested in using email. Patients are willing to participate and are taking the initiative to discuss health issues with their providers. Additional testing of the effects of asynchronous communication on self-management in chronically ill patients is needed.     

A novel 37-Kd adhesive membrane protein from cloned murine bone marrow stromal cells and cloned murine hematopoietic progenitor cells

The adhesion of hematopoietic progenitor cells to bone marrow stromal cells is critical to hematopoiesis and involves multiple effector molecules. Stromal cell molecules that participate in this interaction were sought by analyzing the detergent-soluble membrane proteins of GBI/6 stromal cells that could be adsorbed by intact FDCP-1 progenitor cells. A single-chain protein from GBI/6 cells having an apparent molecular weight of 37 Kd was selectively adsorbed by FDCP-1 cells. This protein, designated p37, could be surface-radiolabeled and thus appeared to be exposed on the cell membrane. An apparently identical 37- Kd protein was expressed by three stromal cell lines, by Swiss 3T3 fibroblastic cells, and by FDCP-1 and FDCP-2 progenitor cells. p37 was selectively adsorbed from membrane lysates by a variety of murine hematopoietic cells, including erythrocytes, but not by human erythrocytes. Binding of p37 to cells was calcium-dependent, and was not affected by inhibitors of the hematopoietic homing receptor or the cell-binding or heparin-binding functions of fibronectin. It is proposed that p37 may be a novel adhesive molecule expressed on the surface of a variety of hematopoietic cells that could participate in both homotypic and heterotypic interactions of stromal and progenitor cells.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">TCF7L2</Emphasis>variant genotypes and type 2 diabetes risk in Brazil: significant association,but not a significant tool for risk stratification in the general population

Background  

Genetic polymorphisms of the TCF7L2 gene are strongly associated with large increments in type 2 diabetes risk in different populations worldwide. In this study, we aimed to confirm the effect of the TCF7L2 polymorphism rs7903146 on diabetes risk in a Brazilian population and to assess the use of this genetic marker in improving diabetes risk prediction in the general population.     

Intraoperative electron and external beam irradiation with or without 5-fluorouracil and maximum surgical resection for previously unirradiated,locally recurrent colorectal cancer

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE: 1) Disease control and survival will be evaluated for treatment regimens containing intraoperative electron irradiation (IOERT) for locally recurrent, previously unirradiated colorectal cancers. 2) Various prognostic factors will be evaluated to determine whether they have an impact on disease control or survival. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From April 1981 through August 1995, 123 patients with previously unirradiated locally recurrent colorectal cancers received IOERT at our institution, usually as a supplement to external beam irradiation (EBRT) and maximum resection. All received EBRT with or without concomitant 5-fluorouracil-based chemotherapy. Forty-five Gy in 25 fractions was given to the tumor or tumor bed plus 3-cm to 5-cm margins in 121 of 123 patients and a boost of 5.4 to 9 Gy in 3 to 5 fractions to the tumor plus 2-cm margins. Maximum resection was performed before or after EBRT. IOERT doses ranged from 10 to 20 Gy in 119 of 123 patients, with dose dependent on resection margins (130 fields in 123 patients). Maintenance chemotherapy was given to only two patients. RESULTS: Disease relapse and survival were evaluated. Central failure (within the IOERT field) was documented in 13 of 123 patients (11 percent) with a five-year actuarial rate of 26 percent. Local relapse (in EBRT field) occurred in 24 patients (20 percent); five-year rate was 37 percent. Distant metastases occurred in 66 patients (54 percent); five-year rate was 72 percent. Median survival was 28 months, with overall survival at two, three, and five years of 62, 39, and 20 percent, respectively. Tolerance data suggest a relationship between IOERT dose and incidence of Grade 2 or 3 neuropathy (12.5 Gy, 2 of 29 or 7 percent; 15 Gy, 19 of 101 or 19 percent;P=0.12). Survival and disease control were analyzed as a function of potential prognostic factors. None of the prognostic factors had a significant impact on disease control or survival. Although there was a trend for reduction in local relapse rates with gross totalvs. partial resection, this neither achieved statistical significance nor translated into improved survival. Patients with gross residual disease after maximum resection had three-year and five-year survival rates of 36 and 18 percent, respectively, which paralleled results for patients with gross total resection at 41 and 24 percent, respectively. CONCLUSION: Encouraging trends for improved local control with or without survival exist in separate locally recurrent colorectal IOERT analyses from our institution and other institutions. Therefore, continued evaluation of IOERT approaches seems warranted. Disease control within the IOERT and external fields is decreased when the surgeon is unable to accomplish a gross total resection. Therefore, it is reasonable to consistently add 5-fluorouracil or other dose modifiers during EBRT and to evaluate the use of dose modifiers in conjunction with IOERT (sensitizers and hyperthermia). In view of high systemic failure rates of >50 percent in patients with locally recurrent disease, more routine use of systemic therapy is indicated as a component of IOERT-containing treatment regimens (use existent chemotherapy and/or develop effective immunotherapy and gene transfer therapy). Even with locally recurrent lesions, the aggressive multimodality approaches including IOERT have resulted in improved local control and long-term survival rates of 20 percentvs. an expected 5 percent with conventional techniques.Supported in part by Mayo Comprehensive Cancer Grant CA 15083-18A1A2.Poster presentation at the meeting of the American Society of Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology, Miami Beach, Florida, October 28 to November 1, 1995.     

Calcium-dependent cysteine protease activity in the sera of patients with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura

Plasma and serum from patients with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) can cause activation and aggregation of normal human platelets in vitro. It is possible that this platelet-activating factor contributes to the disease. In this report we describe studies designed to identify the platelet-activating factor in TTP. Platelet activation by sera from 15 patients with TTP was inhibited by leupeptin, iodoacetamide, and antipain but not by phenylmethylsulphonylfluoride, epsilon-aminocaproic acid, soybean trypsin inhibitor, aprotinin, and D-phenylanyl-1-prolyl-1- arginine chloromethyl ketone. These studies suggested that the platelet- activating factor in TTP serum was a cysteine protease. We confirmed that a calcium-dependent cysteine protease (CDP) was present in the sera of each of the 15 patients when we used an assay based on the ability of CDP to proteolyse platelet membrane glycoprotein 1b (GP1b) and hence to abolish the ability of CDP-treated normal platelets to agglutinate in the presence of ristocetin and von Willebrand factor. This proteolytic activity was inhibited by EDTA, leupeptin, antipain, iodoacetamide, and by N-ethyl-maleamide (NEM) but not by the serine protease inhibitors. Activity was detected in 15 of 15 patients with TTP tested before therapy was begun. In contrast, no activity was detected in the serum of any of five of the TTP patients tested in remission or in any of the sera from 36 patients with thrombocytopenia and 423 nonthrombocytopenic controls. To look for in vivo CDP activity in patients with TTP, we studied platelets from two patients with acute TTP (drawn into acid-citrate-dextrose, NEM, and leupeptin). These platelets showed a loss of GP1b from the platelet surface. Both patients were also studied in remission: GP1b on the platelet surface had returned to normal. These studies provide evidence that CDP is present in the sera of patients with TTP, that it is specific to this disease, and that is is active in vivo as well as in vitro. We postulate that a disorder of CDP homeostasis plays a major role in the pathophysiology of TTP.